Alfa Romeo first made the announcement last Summer and now it is coming to fruition. The Italian brand will make a dramatic shift from front-drive vehicles and develop rear, all-wheel drive masterpieces ranging from sports saloons, SUVs, and sports cars.
We’ve detailed Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States. They’re taking baby steps, but they plan on getting a firm footing back in the market. They reported 74,000 sales in 2013 and according to Chief Technology Officer Harald Wester they intend to turn that number to close to half-a-million by 2018. They’re certainly making the investment to do so! They revealed that their United States plan is going to result in about a €5bn investment.
The first vehicle of the new series is expected to launch in the Fall of 2015. It’ll be the new Giulia saloon, which is targeting the 3-series as its major competitor (a tough challenge for Alfa Romeo no doubt). The entire project is seeking to coin the Italian brand as the “best in-class rear-wheel and all-wheel drive architecture on the market”. They’re certainly capable of making a move and their new designs are on point, but it’s going to be an uphill battler for Alfa Romeo. Trying to supplant BMW and Mercedes in the American market, with other players like Lexus stepping their game up, is going to be awfully tough.
Image via Alfa Romeo
